Field Note Upload

January 18, 2017

There is sometimes an issue uploading field notes twice in the same day. When the "Ignore Logs Before" box is checked, it sometimes won't upload the more recent finds in the file.

Is anyone else having this problem?

7.4k · January 18, 2017

Are you sometimes logging finds with an API-enabled app on a smartphone? Doing so will change the filter time setting and, due to long-standing time stamp issues between the web and the API, move the time cutoff to a point after the time stamps from a field notes upload that were actually logged later.

January 18, 2017

Are you sometimes logging finds with an API-enabled app on a smartphone? Doing so will change the filter time setting and, due to long-standing time stamp issues between the web and the API, move the time cutoff to a point after the time stamps from a field notes upload that were actually logged later.

All testing was done with the same device, a Garmin Oregon 600. The time stamps in the geocache_visits.txt were reasonable and consistent. Sometimes it worked and sometimes not. One time when it didn't work, I advanced the date by 1 day and the upload worked. Not sure the exact hours will trigger the upload.

Again the issue seems inconsistent.

7.4k · January 18, 2017

I have not seen this issue reported before. How frequently does this occur for you? Is it something that only recently started happening?

January 18, 2017

I have taken on this issue for a non-computer literate friend. I convinced him a month or two ago to start using paperless caching.

Two days ago he found 6 caches and tried to upload them. The first 3 (oldest) uploaded and the newest 3 did not. All were logged using a Garmin Oregon 600T and were in a single Geocaching_visits.txt file. He did not perform the operation twice but all at once. He does not delete the file after the upload so I can review the file and the time stamps.

Yesterday he found many more caches and none of them would upload. I have not had a chance to check his computer and the time zone settings on the laptop or his online profile. His GPS time/date has been verified.

I have test several scenarios using my GPS and computer and have experienced inconsistencies. I don't intend to test further at this time. I suspect that other are hoving this issue.

9k · January 18, 2017

See if it's similar to this issue, or this.

You're uploading field notes not through a smartphone - what method are you using? Do you compose the notes to log via the Field Notes page on the website?

ETA: Corrected first thread link.

Edited January 18, 2017 by thebruce0

January 18, 2017

See if it's similar to this issue, or this.

You're uploading field notes not through a smartphone - what method are you using? Do you compose the notes to log via the Field Notes page on the website?

January 18, 2017

See if it's similar to this issue, or this.

You're uploading field notes not through a smartphone - what method are you using? Do you compose the notes to log via the Field Notes page on the website?

Are you not familiar with the Garmin geocaching_visits.txt file.

The list is in this format

GC5YM4V,2015-07-03T02:56Z,Found it,""

GC5RG94,2015-07-04T01:42Z,Found it,""

GC5YNMA,2015-07-04T20:01Z,Found it,""

Using the field notes upload, I choose the file and then upload. I can't get the log creation/edit because the new caches won't upload. So yes I am using the Filed Notes upload page on the website.

9k · January 18, 2017

See if it's similar to this issue, or this.

You're uploading field notes not through a smartphone - what method are you using? Do you compose the notes to log via the Field Notes page on the website?

Are you not familiar with the Garmin geocaching_visits.txt file.

The list is in this format

GC5YM4V,2015-07-03T02:56Z,Found it,""

GC5RG94,2015-07-04T01:42Z,Found it,""

GC5YNMA,2015-07-04T20:01Z,Found it,""

Using the field notes upload, I choose the file and then upload. I can't get the log creation/edit because the new caches won't upload. So yes I am using the Filed Notes upload page on the website.

Ok, thanks, and no. I've only used Field Notes upload via 3rd party applications, not text file uploads direct via the website. So it does seem to be related, perhaps, in a way to the other Field Note issue as it's a non-API field note submission method.

Now I want to test that out as well...

ETA: I tested a straightforward upload a field note text file to the Field Notes page.

I included one item:

GC6W08E,2017-01-18T12:05Z,Write Note,"Testing"

The resulting time was Jan 18, 7:05, which is correct for my timezone. So this particular non-API field note submission method at least does seem to be working properly.

Also, fixed the link to the Field Notes thread.

Edited January 18, 2017 by thebruce0

2.8k · January 18, 2017

Maybe I missed it above but what I see reported is "new caches won't upload". Is your friend getting an error message on the upload? Does your friend's upload appear successful but the entries don't show?

January 18, 2017

It simply doesn't upload. no error message.

Intimates 0 logs uploaded. Same respose if I tried to re-upload a file that has already been uploaded.

2.8k · January 18, 2017

It simply doesn't upload. no error message.

Intimates 0 logs uploaded. Same respose if I tried to re-upload a file that has already been uploaded.

Have you tried to upload the same file that fails to upload on your friends computer? I'm wondering if it's possibly something with the file, his process or account.

January 18, 2017

It simply doesn't upload. no error message.

Intimates 0 logs uploaded. Same respose if I tried to re-upload a file that has already been uploaded.

Have you tried to upload the same file that fails to upload on your friends computer? I'm wondering if it's possibly something with the file, his process or account.

Please read all my previous posts. I set up a trial on my PC and with my file. Same problems. I also mentioned he is pc challenged and doesn't know how to email the file. Hence my simulated test

9k · January 18, 2017

I haven't tried various text file formats- there are some minor character differences that could cause a problem. I'd presume that's handled on Groundspeak's end though as this upload feature has long-existed, and for multiple OS platforms.

Are there any special characters perhaps in some of the log text?

Was it working correctly up until only recently, and without doing anything differently?Has it ever worked for your friend or is this a brand new thing entirely for him?

Edited January 18, 2017 by thebruce0

January 18, 2017

Like I posted previously it started 2 days ago. Forum posts suggest issue might have existed in november. Proj rams can change when Groundspeak makes "improvements" in other features.

I used to program and know this happens.

2.8k · January 18, 2017

It simply doesn't upload. no error message.

Intimates 0 logs uploaded. Same respose if I tried to re-upload a file that has already been uploaded.

Have you tried to upload the same file that fails to upload on your friends computer? I'm wondering if it's possibly something with the file, his process or account.

Please read all my previous posts. I set up a trial on my PC and with my file. Same problems. I also mentioned he is pc challenged and doesn't know how to email the file. Hence my simulated test

It works for you and not your friend so my initial focus would be on what your friend is doing. I'm not saying the website shouldn't provide a more helpful message if there's an issue with the file but you've seem to proven to yourself the functionality on the site appears to be working. My last post indicated "if it's possibly something with the file, his process or account." so I suggest you start there. I'd be surprised you couldn't walk through having him attach a file to a message since he's aware of how to find the same file on the Upload dialog from the site. You also might want to try to do some remote desktop control like I have with my parents/in-laws to remote do in 2 seconds what they'd fumble through on a 20+ minute call.

January 18, 2017

Read my post again. I was able to create a problem with my file and my pc.

7.8k · January 18, 2017

If it isn't very long, can you post an example of a file which causes the problem you're seeing?

When I've experienced similar behaviour in the past, it was because I had used a quotation mark (") in a comment in one of the field notes. Since this character is used to define the start and end of the comment, an extra one can throw things out of whack. Check for one of these in the file around where the behaviour changes.

2.8k · January 18, 2017

I took a geocache_visits.txt file from my Garmin Oregon 700 and took the latest 6 caches in the file with all 6 files referencing finds on the same day. I put 3 of those 6 records in geocache_visits1.txt and the other 3 in geocache_visits2.txt. I then uploaded the following scenarios...

Uploaded visits1.txt - 3 records uploaded

Uploaded visits2.txt with Ignore logs before checked - 3 records uploaded

Clear the 6 records that were uploaded

Upload visits1.txt - 3 records uploaded

Uploaded visits2.txt with Ignore logs before unchecked - 3 records uploaded

Clear the 6 records that were uploaded

Upload visits1.txt - 3 records uploaded

Re-upload visit1.txt with Ignore logs before checked - 3 records uploaded

Re-upload visit1.txt with Ignore logs before unchecked - 3 records uploaded

Clear the 9 records (3 for each cache) that were uploaded

If I have no pending field notes, the 1st time I launch the upload page there's no Ignore logs before checkbox and it's only displayed on subsequent loads. After clearing all pending logs, the checkbox isn't displayed again until a 2nd/subsequent upload.

I couldn't come up with a use case that failed with my real data. The data used, split into 2 files is below...

GC6WTAG,2017-01-17T17:25Z,Found it,""

GC6XE99,2017-01-17T17:46Z,Found it,""

GC6XKTG,2017-01-17T18:20Z,Found it,""

GC6YJ8G,2017-01-17T18:37Z,Found it,""

GC6Y233,2017-01-17T19:05Z,Found it,""

GC5YADT,2017-01-17T19:26Z,Found it,""

Edited January 18, 2017 by Team DEMP

January 19, 2017

Did you clear or bulk delete?

2.8k · January 19, 2017

Did you clear or bulk delete?

Did a clear after each scenario.

Re-ran the scenario with the following which caused the same behavior you described...

Uploaded visits1.txt - 3 records uploaded

Highlighted the 3 records and bulk deleted the 3 uploaded records as if processed and cleared

Uploaded visits2.txt with Ignore logs before checked - 0 records uploaded (WRONG BEHAVIOR)

Uploaded visits2.txt with Ignore logs before unchecked - 3 records uploaded

Seems like the wrong behavior to me. In the interim until it's fixed (assuming it gets fixed), your friend should Clear after processing the records before uploading more or uncheck the option.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Team DEMP

January 19, 2017

Just reran the simulation I ran earlier today and it works now.

I will try it again in the morning.

Edited January 19, 2017 by Khoda

7.4k · January 19, 2017

It looks to me that what is happening is that when you bulk delete all of the field notes in the list, the date filter is getting incorrectly adjusted ahead based on your time zone offset from UTC. I have reproduced this issue and entered a ticket into our database.

January 19, 2017

Thanks for your persistence in duplicating my experience. Since I always log through GSAK I have little experience with the log upload feature of Groundspeak. I had to setup simulations to get a feel on how it works.

Concerning the original reason for the post, the issue my friend was experiencing, we have resolved that issue. When he entered a field note he referred to the beacon as an 8" tree. Of course the extra quotation mark is the kiss of death and unpaired the required pair of quotes. We deleted the extra quote and it work normally.

thanks everyone for your feedback.

9k · January 20, 2017

Great news. And I see where I went off the rails I read "One time when it didn't work, I advanced the date by 1 day and the upload worked. Not sure the exact hours will trigger the upload" by skimming, and connected it to the 8 hour bump of field notes, which means any note dated after 4pm will shift the date ahead by 1. My bad for the confusion!

That said, how did he create the text file for upload? I presume auto-generated by the GPS? If so, it's odd that it didn't fix the quote he used in the log text so it would upload correctly.

Did he remove the quote to make it work, or did you/he manually fix the text file to make it work?

In other words, is this bound to happen again unless your friend never uses the quotation mark in any future log from the device?

January 20, 2017

He knows to not use the quote anymore

9k · January 20, 2017

Ugh.

Is that because of his device, or from editing the text file manually to add log text?

If he's editing the text, he can use a double quote, he just has to escape it - use a double double quote

Edited January 20, 2017 by thebruce0

January 20, 2017

He simply removed the quote in notepad. The garmin oregon 600 allowed him to enter the quote in his field notes

9k · January 20, 2017

In case my edit was missed (moved it here), he can use double quotes, they just need to be doubled up:

Example: "Found it 8"" from the ground."

The text should import with a single "

Edited January 20, 2017 by thebruce0

2.8k · January 20, 2017

Ugh.

Is that because of his device, or from editing the text file manually to add log text?

If he's editing the text, he can use a double quote, he just has to escape it - use a double double quote

My Oregon 700 is home and I'm at work but I will test entering in a double quote and seeing what is written to the txt file it should escape it or it's a defect in the firmware which should be noted.

2.8k · January 21, 2017

I created a new log on my Oregon 700 and included a double quote in the comment. The record was written to geocache_visits.txt in what appears to be incorrect...

GC6WTAG,2017-01-18T22:03Z,Found it,"Abc 123 #"?"

The " in the comment is between the $ and ? . Garmin should write out the log note replacing " with "". Is this output incorrect in all Garmin units or specific models?

Edited January 21, 2017 by Team DEMP

January 21, 2017

I would think this is common for all Garmin. I know the oregon 600 has this issue. This is what caused the problem for my friend. Another caching friend has experienced the same issue on an older model Garmin.

9k · January 21, 2017

Not that this is a workable simple solution, but would the site convert " to a double quote on field note upload?

2.8k · January 21, 2017

I emailed garmin about. I don't expect a stellar response.

I imagine there is an enhancement possible on the upload/pre-processing function for field notes to accommodate this bug in Garmin's output.

2.8k · January 23, 2017

I emailed garmin about. I don't expect a stellar response.

I imagine there is an enhancement possible on the upload/pre-processing function for field notes to accommodate this bug in Garmin's output.

I had an initial email exchange last night (Sun night ET). It started with a suggestion to upgrade my firmware since there doesn't seem to be a problem entering a double quote (") in a comment. I replied that my detailed issue reporting indicated there was no problem entering the character and that the issue was the output to cache_visits.txt . The next reply was that the Garmin rep confirmed a double quote is being output to the cache_visits.txt file. I replied again that I detailed that too in my initial report but that it's not properly outputting a double quote if the entire field is already delimited by double quotes. I even asked them to export a CSV file with double quote delimiters from Excel or Google docs to show what it should look like.

I had included details of the issue and examples of what was incorrect and what it should be yet none of that was reviewed or comprehended by the individual that was responding. In addition, they indicated that this has never been reported before.

After my last email response, showing the same incorrect info initially posted to support when I initiated the issue, I haven't yet received a follow-up.

Might be helpful if a couple more folks opened a similar support issue especially if they have a device other then mine - Oregon 700. It was tricky to find the email support link on the Garmin site so here's a direct link - https://support.garm.../emailForm/form

Edited January 23, 2017 by Team DEMP

9k · January 23, 2017

...

Sometimes I wish more companies would let knowledgeable customers speak directly with their knowledgeable programmers. *sigh* (presuming they are sufficiently knowledgeable of course!)

January 23, 2017

Reminds me of Office Space the movie. :laughing:

2.8k · January 25, 2017

Another quick update... Received a follow-up email from Garmin tech support:

We are not sure if the engineers will attempt to fix this issue since it works correctly on geocaching.com. The engineers may agree that it needs to be addressed so I have created a case. The engineering team will email you when a determination has been made.

I replied back that the issue prevents the file from working properly on geocaching.com and asked that he/they prove it to themselves, not just use a file I provided, by logging a cache and adding a note with one double quote and seeing it won't upload. I then suggested they log another cache and manually entering two double quotes back to back and then upload that at geocaching.com to see it loads the record with a single quote in the log.

Field Note Upload

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